Crowley's Ridge softball drops midweek doubleheader to Evangel

March 10, 2021
By Dustin Semore, Sports Information Director

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – After not playing in more than a month, the Lady Pioneers of Crowley's Ridge College hit the field for a midweek double-header with the Crusaders of Evangel (Mo.) University. Evangel took both games in five innings, the opener 8-0 before ending the second game early 10-2.

GAME ONE

Crowley's Ridge – 0
Evangel – 8

The Lady Pioneers (2-3) were unable to pick up a hit in the opening frame, collecting their first off of Rachel's Russel's single to open the second.

Meanwhile, the Crusaders (10-1) started hot with three of their 11 hits in the first inning, including a pair of runs. Bailey Jones then led off the CRC half of the third inning with a single up the middle, but sat sixty feet away from home when the final out of the inning was recorded.

After picking up two runs in the home fourth, Evangel exploded with five hits in the fifth inning, scoring four runs to end the contest in the fifth inning at 8-0.

Sammi Henry struck out two Crusaders while giving up no walks in the loss.

Bailey Jones led the offense for CRC with two hits, followed by Rachel Russell's one.

GAME TWO
Crowley's Ridge – 2
Evangel – 10

Adrienne Stucker made her debut in green and white in the circle for the nightcap. The Lady 'Neers (2-4) were able to plate two runs in the contest, but a big seventh from the hosts ended the game after five innings.

Evangel (11-1) continued to see the ball well, with a leadoff single followed by a double driving in the game's first run. The second inning for both teams were identical with the leadoff batter grounding out, followed by a double. Neither team would be able to score the early threat.

After a leadoff single, Evangel's Ali Raley's frozen rope cut its way through the 21 mph wind to clear the fence for a two-run homer to take a 3-2 lead.

Crowley's Ridge started the fifth inning with K.J. Jackson's wheels allowing her to reach first on a dropped third strike. After swiping second, Madison Pikey tried to sacrifice Jackson to third, but a Crusader error gave the Lady Pioneers runners on the corners. After Pikey stealing second, April Kennedy had the big bat for CRC by sending a double into center to drive in Jackson and Pikey; however, Kennedy had eyes for third and was cut down trying to return to second to end the Pioneer threat.

The spark would prove short-lived as the Crusaders lit up the scoreboard in the bottom of the fifth with six hits and seven runs to erase any threat of a Lady 'Neer comeback to end the game in five innings with a 10-2 win.

K.J. Jackson and April Kennedy's fifth inning hits would be the only knocks for Crowley's Ridge.

UP NEXT

After a long respite, the Lady Pioneers will look to make up for lost time by playing middle day of their six-games-in-three-days gauntlet. Crowley's Ridge will play their home opening series against Bacone (Okla.) College for doubleheaders on Thursday, March 11 and Friday, March 12. Tomorrow's DH is slated to start at 1 p.m. with game two tentatively scheduled for 3 p.m. Friday will see the teams play at noon and 2 p.m.